PARK AND CEMETERY. 
201 
stone of which this was composed had disappeared be- 
low the surface by gradual subs : dence. Besides a large 
quantity of useful material several fine masses of marble 
and Portland oolite were recovered by digging. As a 
good deal of the stone so obtained had been squared 
and worked we were obliged to dispose of it in several 
masses roughly simulating uplifted stratified rocks. The 
crevices were all plugged with soil and these afford posi- 
tions especially suited to the habits of many plants and 
these when so grown produce an agreeable effect. 
As the rocks were built up, care was made to leave 
between them deep pocketing for the subsequent recep- 
tion of the plants. The pockets were rilled with loam 
mixed with leaf mould, and in this the majority of the 
plants appear to thrive. The principle of a rock gar- 
den is to imitate the conditions of growth of deep- 
rooted plants. Almost all sub-Alpines a e of this char- 
acter, the distance to which their roots extend makes 
them to a great extent independent of extremes of tem- 
perature and also of drought. They are all, however, 
intolerant of standing moisture and flourish best on slop- 
ing broken ground from which water readily flows off 
and does not rest near the collar of the plant and its 
dormant winter buds. Rock fragments appear to be 
congenial to the development of roots which follow their 
surfaces, they keep also no doubt the temperature more 
equal than soil and yield a more uniform and constant 
supply of moisture. In this Mr. Joad’s 2,630 plants weie 
later planted in geographical arrangement with an effect 
greatly admired bvthe public. 
The word “Rockery” is popularly associated with an 
idea of Alpine plants. The interpretation of this ver- 
nacular is anything small and neat that can be planted 
amongst the rocks. In reality only those peculiar to the 
Alps are Alpine and this definition excludes many found 
in the Alps. Altogether there are about 1000 species of 
ferns and flowering plants found in or equal to the alti- 
tudinous zone of the Alps and those of Europe, Asia 
and America are all very similar. Some plants are typi- 
cally endemic to a warm climate but get into colder 
zones and vice versa. Geographical botanists divide 
the plants into zones— those peculiar to the Arctic be- 
long to the Agrarian where no cultivation is carried on, 
the lower limit of this zone is marked by Digitalis pur- 
purea. Mr. Baker tells us the highest limit is marked 
by Rubus camamorus, where the atmosphere is so rari- 
fied as to prevent human life comfortably existing. He 
further states that the second descending limit is marked, 
by Salix herbacea. Even though entirely included 
within those generally known as Alpine plants only 
about X are real A1 P ines - One of tlie most 
problems in cultivating rock plants is the fact that arti- 
ficial environments are so greatly at variance with the 
natural circumstances, it is often and in the United 
States generally impossible to simulate them and hence 
cultivate the plants. In the frigid zones where the ice 
capped peaks have a vegetative season of but a month 
or two, to transfer these plants to a region where the 
vegetative season lasts from six to twelve months is to 
attempt an acclimatization usually impossible during 
generation of a species. In Soldanella for instance, the 
peduncle will generate enough heat around its growing 
point to melt the ice surrounding it and while it circin- 
ately lengthens out, its wake is again frozen, the tip still 
continuing to grow and literally force itself through the 
ice. As if to defy human subservience, the plant is in- 
tractable when transferred to a climate opposite in all 
main character to that for which it is provided with uni- 
que and special arrangements for its perpetuation. On 
the other hand Gypsophila saxifraga, a true Alpine plant, 
grows quite contentedly here. Here it is possible to de- 
termine what the vital points a plant must necessarily 
have, to judge whether or not it will thrive down here 
science has not revealed. 
Among the noteworthy individuals in the Kew Rock- 
ery are: — Ramondia pyrenaica, that difficult little blue 
flowered plant from the Pyrenees thriving well. Physalis 
alkekengi in a mass is pleasing throughout the winter 
on account of the large bright red persistent fruit. Poly- 
gonum affine from the Himalayas forms a dense mat of 
crimson spikes. A few of the better plants suitable 
for partially clambering over rocks are: — Saxifraga 
oppositifolia ; sedum sexangulare; Saxifraga aizoon 
var-rostrata; Arabis procurrens variegita; Aubretia del- 
toidea in varieties; Saxifraga divisa; that grand little S. 
hypnoides; Sempervivum Lamottei and S. hirtum. In 
a specially provided bog the Himalaya Primula rosea, 
the Madeira Orchis foliosa and our own cypripedum 
parvifoluim, C. californicum, C. pubescens are growing. 
Outside in the rockery it is unfortunate that our Ameri- 
can Sarracenias, Shortias, Pyxidantheras, Galax, etc., do 
not thrive. 
Among the Conifers are Picea excelsa var. dermosa; 
Cupressus pisifera var. aurea; Thuya gigantea var., pli- 
cata. In one moist nook is that interesting and feath- 
ery Equisetum maximum. Iberis sempervirens var. 
Jarrexiana gracefully drapes a projecting stone. Arte- 
misia valesiaca of Piedmont, with its glaucous foliage is 
pretty indeed. Cotoneaster congesta is charming and 
Eriogomum umbellatum must needs gain recognition 
here. Altogether the Kew Rockery harbors a large 
portion of the many gorgeous flowering or unique grow- 
ing plants indigenous to the higher altitudes of the uni- 
verse. A large and choice selection and exceptionally 
well kept, it is deserve- Ily one of the most interesting 
features in the garden Emil Mische. 
In small grounds where effects are not thoughtfully 
preconsidered one sometimes sees combinations which, at 
least, serve for a warning says a writer in American Gar- 
dening. “Not long ago, I saw a bed of scarlet geraniums 
which it was an aesthetic pain to look upon. They were 
vigorous, well-grown, and covered with great trusses of 
brilliant bloom; just the profusion of dazzling color to de- 
light the eye in a setting of green turf. They were in a well 
kept yard, freshly mown and tidy, but alas, they had for 
background a yellow colored house, and the only possible 
view from the street included that wealth of scarlet bloom 
against clapboards of the ugliest yellow imaginable. J lad 
the house been a gray, or olive, or even white, the effect 
would have been as noticeably pretty as it then was shock- 
ingly ugly.” 
